A bill that would have allowed Nashville’s city council to decide how and where to let people drink on downtown streets is being narrowed to address only confusion about taking liquor among Music City Center, Omni Hotel and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The city promoted that perk in attracting conventions, said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.

But there’s just one hurdle: The state’s consume-on-premises law forces drinkers to chug-a-lug before they leave an establishment.

Supporters didn’t expect problems getting a more expansive area covered until Councilwoman Emily Evans blocked it last week, leading passage of a nonbinding resolution that said the council didn’t support the bill. Spyridon was miffed because it stymied conversation about real issues in the rest of the entertainment district. He cited a Snap-on Tools convention where the organizers rented out four bars, got a permit to block off the street, and still conventioneers couldn’t carry drinks from bar to bar.

There’s a push by cities nationwide for to-go cups in entertainment districts, and many already have it — ones known for partying, such as Savannah, Ga., and New Orleans, and ones not-so-known, such as Huntsville, Ala., and Lincoln, Neb.

Councilwoman Erica Gilmore, who represents downtown, said she abstained from the vote on the resolution because she needs to learn more about the bill. Nashville Predators team President Sean Henry said much the same, but added he generally favors ways for visitors to spend more time wandering among downtown’s offerings. Metro police say they haven’t taken a stance on the bill.

And while one powerful Lower Broadway family — Ruble, Brenda and Brad Sanderson, who own The Stage and other honky-tonks — are on record opposing to-go cups, other owners heartily endorse the concept. Barrett Hobbs, a partner in Whiskey Bent Saloon, Silver Dollar Saloon, Doc Holliday’s and Bootleggers Inn, contends there’s already precedent.

The section of Metro code regulating open containers leaves room for people to walk the streets of downtown carrying plastic cups full of alcohol, as long as it didn’t come from one of the bars. With a new law and special cups handed out at bars, Hobbs argued, police would know what’s being carried around.

Spyridon confirmed he has asked if Solo might be interested in developing a special cup for that purpose but hasn’t heard back.

How it works elsewhere

In Cincinnati

The Ohio legislature has been considering a law to allow cities to have to-go cups in designated areas, but it hasn’t passed. The idea makes sense for Cincinnati, said Julie Calvert, spokeswoman for the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau, with its urban core redevelopment and the emergence of three strong entertainment districts.

In Louisville

Fourth Street Live in downtown Louisville is open to families during the day but closes off the public street at night. Security checks IDs at the entrance and issues wristbands to people of drinking age. Visitors are free to walk from place to place with open containers. The venue holds an arena license from the city, said Katrina Gallagher, spokeswoman for the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In Memphis

Memphis started closing off a three-block section of Beale Street at night and allowing to-go cups in the late 1980s, said Jon Shivers, spokesman for the Downtown Memphis Commission. Security IDs people on the way in, and only those ages 21 and older are allowed. “For us it’s obviously successful. It does pose issues at times, but if bars serve liquor, issues will arise now and again,” Shivers said.

What the tourists think

“Bringing drinks out of restaurants and bars would encourage other street-side drinking, and that could be a problem.” Phil Flora,Charlestown, Ind. “They do it in other places like Vegas. We do it during music festivals. As long as people are contained, why not?” Jeremy Moore, Chattanooga